AnATID^. BIRDS. ANATIDiE. 
CANVAS-BACK {Faligula 'oallkneria) — PlafceVlII, 
fig. xix — is tlie most royal game bird of America. 
It iiiliabits the whole of North America, breeds 
from the Northern States northward, and winters 
from the Middle States southward to Guatemala. 
Wilson says : “ This celebrated American species, as 
far us can be judged from the best figures and de- 
scriptions of foreign birds, is altogether unknown in 
Europe. It approaches nearest the Pochard of 
England (Anas ferina), but differs from that bird in 
being superior in size and weight, in the greater 
magnitude of its bill, and the general whiteness of 
its plumage. The Oanvas-back arrives in the United 
States from the north about the middle of October ; 
a few descend to the Hudson or Delaware, but the 
greater body resort to the streams and inlets belong- 
ing to or in the neighborhood of the Chesapeake 
Bay, particularly the Susquehanna, the Patapsco, 
the Potomac and James Rivers, which appear to be 
their general winter quarters. Like all birds that 
man becomes familiar with, they have been called by 
numerous local names. In the Potomac they are the 
‘ White-backs ’ ; on the James they are ‘ Sheldrakes.’ 
'I'hey are seldom found at a great distance up any 
of these rivers, or even in the salt-water bay, but in 
that particular part of the tide-water where a cer- 
tain grass-like plant grows, on the roots of which 
they feed. This plant, which is said to be a species 
of vallisneria, gi'ows on fresh-water shoals of from 
seven to nine feet, in long, narrow, grass-like blades 
of four or five feet in length ; the root is white, and 
has some resemblance to small celery. This grass 
is in many places so thick that a boat can with diffi- 
culty be rowed through it. 'I’he shores are lined 
with large quantities of it, torn up by the Ducks, 
and drifted up by the winds, lying, like hay, in win- 
nows. Wherever this plant grows in abundance 
there will be found the Oanvas-back Duck, and in 
no other locality during the season. On the first 
arrival of these birds on the Susquehanna they are 
generally lean, but such is the abundance of their 
favorite food, that towards the beginning of Novem- 
ber they are in pretty good order. They are excel- 
lent divers, and swim with great speed and agility. 
They sometimes- assemble in such multitudes as to 
cover several acres of the river, and, when they rise 
suddenly, produce a noise resembling thunder. 'I'hey 
are extremely shy, and can rarely be approached 
unless by stratagem. When wounded in the wing 
they dive to such prodigious distances, and with 
such rapidity, continuing it so perseveringly, and 
with such cunning and active vigor, as almost al- 
ways to render the pursuit hopeless. From the 
great demand for these Ducks, and the high price 
they uniformly bring in the market, various modes 
are practiced to get within gun-shot of them. The 
most successful way is said to be decoying them to 
the shore by means of a dog, while the gunner lies 
closely concealed in a proper situation. The dog, if 
properly trained, plays backwards and forwards 
along the margin of the water; and the Ducks, ob- 
serving his manoeuvres, enticed perhaps by curiosity, 
gradually approach the shore, until they are some- 
cxoix 
times within twenty or thirty yards of the spot where 
the gunner lies concealed, and from which he rakes 
them, first on the water, and then as they rise. This 
method is called tolling them in. If the Ducks 
seem difficult to decoy, any glaring object, such as a 
red handkerchief is fixed round the dog’s middle, or 
to his tail, and this rarely fails to attract them. 
Sometimes by moonlight the sportsman directs his 
skiff towards a flock whose position he had previous- 
ly ascertained, keeping within the projected shadow 
of some wood, bank, or headland, and paddles along 
so silently and imperceptibly as often to approach 
with fifteen or twenty yards of a flock of many thou- 
sands, among whom he may make great slaughter. 
During the day they are dispersed about, but towards 
evening they collect in large flocks, and ride as at 
anchor in the mouths of creeks. If shot at much in 
the night, they are apt to be dispersed, and not re- 
turn. When feeding and diving in small parties, 
the whole never go down at one time, but some are 
still left alone on the lookout. When the winter- 
sets in severely, and the river is frozen, the Canvas- 
backs retreat to its confluence with the bay, occa- 
sionally frequenting air-holes in the ice, which are 
sometimes made for the purpose, immediately above 
their favorite grass, to entice them within gun-shot 
of the hut or bush, which is usually fixed at a proper- 
distance, and where the gunner lies concealed, ready 
to take advantage of their distress. 'The Oanvas- 
back, in the rich, juicy tenderness of its flesh, and 
its delicacy of flavor, stands unrivalled by the whole 
of its tribe in this and perhaps any other quarter 
of the world. Those killed iir the waters of the 
Chesapeake are considered superior- to all others, 
doubtless from the greater- abundance of its favorite 
food which these produce.” 
'I’he Canvas-back is two feet long, and three in 
extent of wing, and when in good order weighs three 
pounds ; the female is somewhat less, weighing two 
and three-quarters pounds. 'I'he windpipe of the 
male has a large, flattish, concave labyrinth. 'J’he 
intestines are wide, and measure five feet. Dr. 
Cones says: “'The Canvas-back does not seem to 
nest in the Eastern States, though it does so in the 
West.” He found younglings, in July, on 'I’urtle 
mountains, latitude forty-nine degrees. Dr. New- 
berry found it moi-e numerous than any other Duck 
in the lakes and streams of the Cascade Mountains. 
Iir those solitudes it nests and rears its young, as 
he frequently saw its broods. Mr. Dali found it 
breeding in abundance on the Yukon. 
GOLDEN-EYE (Bucephala, clangula). — Called, also. 
Whistle-wing and Garrot. Inhabits all of North 
America, Cuba and Europe. AYilson says: “It fre- 
quents the sea-coast, and about the lakes and rivers 
of the interior ; associates in small parties, and may 
easily be known by the vigorous whistling of its 
wings as it passes through the air. It swims and 
dives well, but seldom walks on shore, and then in a 
waddling, awkward manner, feeding chiefly on shell- 
fish, small fry, etc. 'The flesh is less esteemed than 
that of the preceding.” In the United States they 
are only winter visitors, leaving us again in the month 
